Henry Ford Genesys Nurses End Year-Long Strike with Contract Approval
In a significant development, the nurses at Henry Ford Genesys in Genesee County have concluded their protracted strike, which has persisted for over a year. Late Friday, Henry Ford Health disclosed that the nurses voted decisively in favor of ratifying the hospital’s latest contract proposal.
The labor dispute, which commenced on Labor Day in 2025, was marked by intense exchanges and allegations. The resolution was announced in a statement from the hospital, emphasizing the overwhelming support from the striking nurses for the new contract:
“The vote in favor of the contract ends the Teamsters’ strike, which began more than a year ago. Next, representatives for the hospital and union will meet to negotiate terms of striking members’ return to work.”
Henry Ford Genesys Hospital’s Interim President, Gwen Sandefur, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We’re thrilled at the prospect of welcoming our valued team members back to work and look forward to working side by side with them to provide the high-quality care and service our communities count on.”
Dan Glass, president of Teamsters Local 332, elaborated on the decision to accept the contract after over 100 bargaining meetings. “It was clear that the parties were not going to reach a mutual agreement on some of the core issues that remained. Our nurses felt it was time to continue advocating for their patients at the bedside while preserving their ability to have Teamsters protection throughout this agreement,” he remarked.
Although specific details of the contract remain undisclosed, Henry Ford Health indicated that it aligns with their existing employment terms for nurses and reflects their systemwide staffing model. Key features of the agreement include:
- A 13% increase in wages, addressing the below-market rates in the union’s previous contract with former hospital operators.
- New pay rates for weekend, critical, and off-shift work to ensure adequate staffing during these times.
- Retention of the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios from earlier Teamsters Local 332 agreements.
- Guaranteed seniority rights for all striking union members.
While the Teamsters local has ratified the contract, discussions regarding the return-to-work terms for the striking nurses are still ongoing. The strike’s prolonged duration seemed to affect union solidarity, as some members of Local 322, assisted by a national right-to-work group, sought a National Labor Relations Board review to decertify the Teamsters as their bargaining representative. A hearing on this matter was recently postponed.
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